Extendable hull system movable betwen mono-hull and multi-hull configurations

ABSTRACT

An extendable hull system movable between a mono-hull to a multi-hull configuration is provided so as to take advantage of both types of hull designs depending on the boating conditions. The extendable hull system provides a center hull portion and two side hull portions, each with separate planing surfaces in an expanded multi-hull configuration, and providing a shared planing surface in the contracted mono-hull configuration. The extendable hull system provides a pivotably connected railing system along a periphery of the side hull portions for moving to a deployed configuration providing additional walking surface. The extendable hull system provides a retractable awning movable between positions for covering the mono-hull and the multi-hull configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of U.S. non-provisionalapplication No. 15/009,522, filed Jan. 28, 2016, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to expandable watercraft and, moreparticularly, to a watercraft system expandable from a mono-hull to amulti-hull and able to be contracted back to the mono-hull so as to takeadvantage of both types of hull designs depending on the boatingconditions.

A boat floats because it displaces a greater weight of water than itsown weight. When a boat is sitting still or moving slowly, the hull is“in displacement mode.” That is, all of the upward forces keeping it ontop of the water come from flotation obtained by displacing water.Increase the boat's speed beyond a certain point with certain hulls andthe hull rises up and skims along on top of the water. This is called“planing.” As a result, generally speaking, a hull can be described as adisplacement hull or a planing hull.

The displacement hull is typically restricted to relatively slow speedsbut is extremely efficient to run. In comparison, the planing hull isdesigned to achieve high speeds on the water by transitioning onto aplane easily. Planing hulls may include flat bottom surfaces fromamidships aft (from the middle to the back of the bottom) and a flattransom (back of the hull). The transom may meet the bottom at a sharpangle.

Boats come in two broad categories: mono-hull (or single hull) andmulti-hull. Mono-hull boats typically have a flat transom stern and apointed bow for facilitating planing. Multi-hull boats have two or morehulls joined by a bridge deck or other structure. Multi-hull boatsprovide a good rough-water ride as they can take on big waves with astable platform. Also, wider boats feel more stable, which makes thempopular for dockside entertaining or angling. Multi-hull boats suffer,however, from the disadvantage of being too wide for conventional marinadocks and convenient transport over land.

Narrower, mono-hull boats more readily offer the planing hull, the needfor speed, and the need to operate in tight quarters. Plus, it can takemore fuel to move a wide boat at a given speed than a narrow hull ofsimilar length. Single narrow hulls, however, have trouble handlingheavy weather and cannot take on big waves at high speeds, but mustreduce to displacement mode. In fact, if the boating conditions aresufficiently adverse, skippers of such narrow, mono-hull boats areadvised to forget their intended destination and bring the bow aroundinto the wind and waves using just enough power to make bare steerage.

As can be seen, there is a need for a watercraft system extendable froma mono-hull to a multi-hull and able to be contracted back to themono-hull so as to take advantage of both types of hull designsdepending on the boating conditions.

An extendable hull system movable between mono-hull and multi-hulloffers advantages, yet, also presents challenges. For example,conventional watercraft weather screens (for sun and rain protection) donot contemplate being employed on expandable watercraft, and as a resulttheir framework is rigid and non-adjustable; moreover, such weatherscreens would not provide efficient coverage for expandable watercraft,as they would not be able to adjustably expand along with suchwatercraft.

Therefore there is a need for a weather screen assembly that canremotely expand to cover the entire length of an expanded watercraft aswell as provide efficient coverage when the expandable watercraft is ina contracted configuration. Moreover, the weather screen assembly couldadvantageously expand out and hang over the edge of each side of anywatercraft to provide for the roll off of rain without getting in thewatercraft. Also, screens can be attached to the weather screen assemblyto keep bugs outside the boat, and video and audio output device couldbe removably affixed to the weather screen assembly.

Furthermore, expandable watercraft may suggest the need to furtherexpand the walking space beyond its expanded configuration because ofthe stability on the water it affords. Therefore there is a need forfurther expanding the walking space by providing a railing system thatmay be movable from a locked configuration to a deployed configuration,providing an additional walking surface generally flush with theexpandable decking in the expanded or contracted configuration. In thelocked configuration, the railing system may be locked generallyperpendicular to the decking so as to provide protection to crew anddeck furniture from going overboard.

As can also be seen, there is a need for an expandable watercraft systemto provide solutions to the challenges presented by being movablebetween multi-hull and mono-hull configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an extendable hull systemadapted to move between a mono-hull contracted configuration and amulti-hull configuration includes a center hull portion connected to aplurality of fixed frame elements; two side hull portions, one of thetwo side hull portions disposed on the port and the starboard side ofthe center hull portion, respectively, wherein each side hull portion isconnected to a plurality of slidable elements, each slidable elementreceived by an associated complement fixed frame element of theplurality of fixed frame elements; and a plurality of actuator arms,each actuator arm extending from a fixed end to an extendable end,wherein each fixed end is connected to the plurality of fixed frameelements, and wherein each extendable end is connected to one of the twoside hull portions so as to provide a mono-hull contractedconfiguration.

In another aspect of the present invention, the extendable hull systemfurther includes a retractable awning dimensioned and adapted toselectively move between a contracted position and an expanded position,wherein the expanded position provides coverage in the expandedconfiguration.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the extendable hullsystem further includes a railing system pivotably connected to at leastone of the two side hull portions so as to be movable between a verticalconfiguration orthogonal to the plurality of slidable elements and adeployed configuration parallel and adjacent to the plurality ofslidable elements associated with the at least one of the two side hullportions.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating a contracted configuration;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating a contracted configuration;

FIG. 3 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention (omitting multiple components for illustrative clarity)illustrating the contracted configuration;

FIG. 4 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention (omitting multiple components for illustrative clarity)illustrating a mid-expanded configuration;

FIG. 5 is a front view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention (omitting multiple components for illustrative clarity)illustrating the expanded configuration;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention (omitting multiple components for illustrativeclarity) illustrating the contracted configuration;

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention (omitting multiple components for illustrativeclarity) illustrating the expanded configuration;

FIG. 8 is a front detail view of an exemplary embodiment an awningportion of the present invention, illustrating a closed configuration;

FIG. 9 is a front detail view of an exemplary embodiment the awningportion of the present invention, illustrating an open configuration;

FIG. 10 is a detail bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof the present invention, illustrating the contracted configuration;

FIG. 11 is a detail bottom perspective view of an exemplary embodimentof the present invention, illustrating the expanded configuration;

FIG. 12 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, taken along line 13-13 in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating a locked configuration;

FIG. 15 is a detail perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating a transitional configuration;

FIG. 16 is a detail perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, illustrating a deployed configuration; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, illustrating the deployed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides an extendablehull system movable between a mono-hull to a multi-hull configuration soas to take advantage of both types of hull designs depending on theboating conditions. The extendable hull system provides a center hullportion and two side hull portions, each with separate planing surfacesin an expanded multi-hull configuration, and providing a shared planingsurface in the contracted mono-hull configuration. The extendable hullsystem provides a pivotably connected railing system along a peripheryof the side hull portions for moving to a deployed configurationproviding additional walking surface. The extendable hull systemprovides a retractable awning movable between positions for covering themono-hull and the multi-hull configuration.

The width of boat hulls is typically constrained by the limitations ofslip-docking, storage, trailer preparation and other transportationconsiderations, while currently expandable or extendable boats arelimited in deck width because of the rigid attachment between theexpandable hull portions and the adjustable frame carrying the deck.Instructively, hull strength is a function of frame width. Therefore,there is a need for extendable boat hulls movable between a contractedconfiguration for storage and transportation and an expandedconfiguration once afloat, ergo an extendable hull system.

The extendable hull system may include a center hull portion, two sidehull portions, an adjustable frame and a plurality of actuator arms. Theadjustable frame may include a plurality of fixed frame elements and aplurality of slidable elements. The plurality of fixed frame elementsmay be supported in a traverse relationship to and along the length ofthe center pontoon. Each elongated slidable element may have a receivedend and a hinged end. Each fixed frame element may be tubular having twoopposing ends, wherein each opposing end may be adapted to slidablyreceive one received end. The plurality of hinged ends may be pivotablyconnected to either one of the two side hull portions. Each actuator armmay have a fixed end and an extendable end, wherein the plurality offixed ends are connected to one fixed frame element, and wherein theplurality of extendable ends are connected to the two side hull portionsso that the two side hull portions are extendable relative to the centerhull portion by shifting the two side hull portions between a contractedposition and an expanded position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include anextendable hull system 100. The extendable hull system 100 may include afixed deck 16, two mobile decks 14, a center hull portions 20, 148, twoside hull portions 18, 144, an adjustable frame 44 and a bracing system46.

The hull portions 18, 144, 20, 148 may be any hull shape that providesbuoyancy to the associated boat. The two side hull portions 18, 144 mayhave an above-water surface including a padded edge 66 and a hinge edge68. The padded edge 66 may have a plurality of pads 42 attached along atleast a portion of the length of each side hull portion 18.

The adjustable frame 44 may include a plurality of elongated fixedelements 22, a plurality of elongated slidable elements 24 and aplurality of actuator arms 26. The plurality of fixed elements 22 andthe plurality of slidable elements 24 may be made of material that canbe repeatedly subject to bending forces without fracturing required of aseaworthy watercraft of a predetermined size. Each fixed elements 22 maybe tubular, forming an opening on each opposing end for slidablyreceiving one slidable element 24 through each opposing end. Theplurality of fixed elements 22 may be connected, for example, bywelding, along the length of the center hull portions 20, 148 atapproximately evenly spaced increments.

Each of the plurality of slidable elements 24 may have a received endand a hinged end 48. Each hinged end 48 may be pivotably connected to ahull hinge 40. The plurality of hull hinges 40 may be connected alongthe length of both side hull portions 18, 144 padded edges 66, forexample, by welding, at approximately evenly spaced increments. Theplurality of hull hinges 40 may be adapted to restrict the extent ofpivoting so as, for example, the two side hull portions 18, 144 are notallow to pivot more than forty-five degrees about a vertical axis. Thetwo side hull portions 18, 144 pivoted zero degrees about the verticalaxis is illustrated in FIG. 5. The plurality of hull hinges 40 may allowfor expansion at any distance up to double the original width. Forexample, an eight-and-a half foot wide boat in the contracted positionmay extend to a seventeen foot boot, doubling the surface area, in theexpanded configuration. It should be understood that the presentinvention may also enable a seven-and-a-half foot contracted position toextend to ten feet in the expanded positions.

The plurality of actuator arms 26 may be linear actuators, actuatorsand/or devices that create motion in a straight line so that theadjustable frame 44 may be extended from a contracted position to anexpanded position. Each actuator arm 26 may be slidably received in anactuator sleeve 50. At least one actuator sleeve 50 may be connected toat least one fixed element 22. Each actuator arm 26 may include a fixedend and an extendable end 52. Each sleeve end may be slidably receivedwithin the actuator sleeve 50. Each extendable end 52 may be fixed toone of the two side hull portions 18, 144. The plurality of actuatorarms 26 may be electric, pneumatic, hydraulic or the like. The pluralityof actuator arms 26 may be independently remotely controlled from, forexample, a deck control panel 36.

In the contracted configuration, the size of the two side hull portions18 and the center hull portions 20 may urge the two side hull portions18 to pivot about the plurality of hull hinges 40, as illustrated inFIG. 3, so as to accommodate wider hull portions 18, 20 for a givenfixed deck 16 width than would otherwise be allowed with non-pivotinghull hinges 40 connections to the two side hull portions 18.

The fixed deck 16 may be connected to the plurality of fixed elements22. The fixed deck 16 width may terminate at two longitudinal matingedges 54. Each mobile deck 14 width may terminate at a longitudinalmating edge 56 and a longitudinal roller end 58. The two mobile decks 14may approximately abut along their respective longitudinal mating edges56 in the contracted position, supported by the fixed deck 16 on ahigher plane thereof. Each of the two roller ends 58 may be pivotablyconnected to a plurality of spring loaded rollers 38. The plurality ofspring loaded rollers 38 may be connected to the plurality of hullhinges 40. The plurality of spring loaded rollers 38 may by adapted sothat the two mobile decks 14 in the contracted position may share thehigher plane yet share a lower plane with the fixed deck 16 in theexpanded position. The two mating edges 54 and the respective matingedges 56 may abut on the lower plane in the expanded position.

In certain embodiments, the extendable hull system 100 may include deckfurniture 34, the deck control panel 36 and at least one telescopicawning support 12 connected thereto. The at least one telescopic awningsupport 12 may include a retractable awning 10 adapted to provide shadeto substantially all deck furniture when the extendable hull system 100may be in the expanded position.

The bracing system 46 may include a plurality of anti-roll braces 28, aplurality of anti-roll male members 30 and a plurality of anti-rollfemale members 32. Each female member 32 may be adapted to securelyreceive a complimentary male member 30 in a matingly engagement. Whenthe plurality of male members 30 are matingly engaged with the pluralityof female members 32 the bracing system 46 is adapted to resist thetorque imposed about each mobile deck 14 by the buoyancy forces appliedthrough each side pontoon 18. The bracing system 46 may be adapted tominimize the size of the decking 14, 16 so as to minimize the overallweight of the extendable hull system 100.

A pair of female members 32 may be connected to opposing port/starboardends of a plurality of braced fixed elements 62, with one female member32 on a bow side and the other female member 32 on a stern side thereof.

Each anti-roll braces 28 may be made of material that can be repeatedlysubject to bending forces without fracturing required of a seaworthywatercraft of a predetermined size. Each anti-roll braces 28 may includea side end 60 and a locking end 64. Each side end 60 may be connected,for example by welding, to one of the two side hull portions 18, 144.Each locking end 64 may terminate in the male member 30.

A pair of anti-roll braces 28 may be placed so that one is disposed onthe bow side and another is disposed on the stern side of the pluralityof braced fixed elements 62. In the expanded position each male member30 may be securely received by each female member 32 so as to preventthe two mobile decks 14 from extending past the expanded position.

In certain embodiments, the extendable hull system 100 may have only thetwo side hull portions 18, 144 and no center hull portions 20, 148. Insuch an embodiment, the plurality of elongated fixed elements 22 may besupported by the fixed deck 16. The fixed deck 16 may remain in a fixedposition relative to the center line of the boat and/or extendable hullsystem 100 while the two side hull portions 18, 144 are extended andcontracted.

In an alternate embodiment, the extendable hull system 100 may have aplurality of side hull portions 18, 144 and at least one center hullportions 20, 148 utilizing the plurality of actuator arms 60, theplurality of hull hinges 40 and the like, to move the plurality of sidehull portions 18, 144 from the expanded configuration to the contractedconfiguration and back, while at least one fixed deck 16 remains fixedrelative to the center line of the boat and/or extendable hull system100.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. Theextendable hull system 100 disclosed above may be provided. When beingtransported, the extendable hull system 100 may be in the contractedposition to abide by state law and or for traffic safety considerations.When deployed as a watercraft, the extendable hull system 100 may beremotely extended from the contracted position to the expanded positionwhen afloat so as to accommodate additional cargo and/or passengers.

In certain embodiments, the extendable hull system 100 may be adaptablefor industrial/barge applications.

Referring to FIGS. 8 through 17, the present invention may include aextendable hull system 100 adapted to be configurable from a mono-hullto a multi-hull design, and able to be contracted back to the mono-hulldesign so as to take advantage of both types of hull designs dependingon the boating conditions.

FIG. 10 illustrates a mono-hull contracted configuration 145 of thepresent invention, whereby the mono-hull contracted configuration 145offers the advantages of a mono-hull design, whereby two side hullportions 144 are dimensioned and adapted to abut each other alongcomplementary abutment surfaces 147, forming a shared planing surface143 at least near the transom. Each side hull portion 144 may be adaptedto provide a planing surface 141 and cooperating abutment surfaces 147for facilitating the shared planing surface 143 in the contractedconfiguration, as illustrated FIGS. 10-13. Moreover, each side hullportion 144 may form similar nesting cavities 151.

The present invention may also provide a center hull portion 148dimensioned and adapted to nest within the cooperating nesting cavities151 in the contracted configuration. The center hull portion 48 providesa center planing surface 153. The present invention is expandable intoan expanded configuration 149, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 13.Moreover, the expanded configuration 149 enables a stepped hullconfiguration by recreating multiple running surfaces: the centersurface 153 and the two opposing planing surfaces 141, as illustrated inFIG. 13. As the boat speed increases, the present invention in theexpanded multi-hull configuration 149 may ride on these three runningsurfaces, 141, 153, 141, with area of contact with the water movingprogressively further aft, resulting in more speed with less power.

The extendable hull system may provide two opposing bow and sterncolumns 112, wherein each column 112 may be vertically adjustable, suchas telescopically. A retractable awning 110 may span both opposingcolumns 112 so that the awning 110 provides sufficient coverage for thedecking 14 and 16 in the expanded configuration 149. The retractableawning 110 may be adjusted either remotely or manually so as to providesufficient coverage of the decking in the mono-hull contractedconfiguration 145. Thus, in the open configuration, the retractableawning 110 may be dimensioned and adapted to selectively move between acontracted position and an expanded position, wherein the expandedposition provides coverage in the expanded configuration 149, andwherein the contracted position provides coverage in the contractedconfiguration 145.

The extendable hull system may also provide a railing system 170 havinga plurality of pivotally connected platform members 150 movable from avertical locked configuration to a deployed configuration, therebygenerally flush with the decking 16. Struts 160, 162 and the hull hinges40, or alternatively platform hinges 152, may be adapted to provide thepivotal connection. Support brackets 164 may be disposed along theunderside of at least some of the platform members 150, wherein thesupport brackets 164 fold down with gravity during the transitionalconfiguration. Rail paneling 154 pivotally connected to the distal edgeof at least some of the platform members 150 by rail hinges 156 mayprovide hand rail support in the deployed configuration.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An extendable hull system adapted to move betweena mono-hull contracted configuration and a multi-hull configuration,comprising: a center hull portion connected to a plurality of fixedframe elements; two side hull portions, one of the two side hullportions disposed on the port and the starboard side of the center hullportion, respectively, wherein each side hull portion is connected to aplurality of slidable elements, each slidable element received by anassociated complement fixed frame element of the plurality of fixedframe elements; and a plurality of actuator arms, each actuator armextending from a fixed end to an extendable end, wherein each fixed endis connected to the plurality of fixed frame elements, and wherein eachextendable end is connected to one of the two side hull portions so asto provide a mono-hull contracted configuration.
 2. The extendable hullsystem of claim 1, wherein the two side hull portions abut in themono-hull contracted configuration providing a shared planing surface.3. The extendable hull system of claim 2, wherein the shared planingsurface is disposed near a transom of the mono-hull contractedconfiguration.
 4. The extendable hull system of claim 1, furthercomprising a complementary nesting cavity is provided in each of the twoside hull portions.
 5. The extendable hull system of claim 1, whereinthe center hull portion is dimensioned and adapted to nest with the twonesting cavities is formed in the mono-hull contracted configuration. 6.The extendable hull system of claim 1, further comprising acomplementary abutment surface is provided along each of the two sidehull portions, wherein the two abutment surfaces abut in the mono-hullcontracted configuration.
 7. The extendable hull system of claim 1,further comprising a center planing surface provided by the center hull.8. The extendable hull system of claim 7, wherein the multi-hullconfiguration provides a stepped hull configuration comprising thecenter planing surface and a side planing surface of each of the twoside hull portions.
 9. The extendable hull system of claim 1, furthercomprising a retractable awning dimensioned and adapted to selectivelymove between a contracted position and an expanded position, wherein theexpanded position provides coverage in the expanded configuration. 10.The extendable hull system of claim 9, further comprising twotelescopically adjustable columns between which the retractable awningspans.
 11. The extendable hull system of claim 1, further comprising arailing system pivotably connected to at least one of the two side hullportions so as to be movable between a vertical configuration orthogonalto the plurality of slidable elements and a deployed configurationparallel and adjacent to the plurality of slidable elements associatedwith the at least one of the two side hull portions.